Sports
Hockey

Slovenia's Anze Kopitar (2nd R) celebrates his goal with teammates as Austria's Andre Lakos (foreground) skates past during the first period of their men's ice hockey playoffs qualification game at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics February 18, 2014. (REUTERS)

Admitting team members stayed out late partying two nights before a humiliating 4-0 defeat to hockey minnow Slovenia, a trio of NHLers on the Olympic squad issued a statement apologizing Thursday.

In an unofficial translation of an Austrian report, the players -- Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders and Michael Raffl of the Philadelphia Flyers -- expressed regret for showing poor off-ice form during the Olympics.

The players suggested they do not believe staying out late Sunday night affected the team’s play in the blowout loss Tuesday. It's unclear whether they were among the players who stayed out late.

Austria was stunned by the shutout loss to Slovenia, a nation with just a few hundred registered hockey players that was playing in its first Olympics.

Slovenia went on to the quarterfinals, essentially ranking as one of the top eight teams in the world despite boasting just one NHLer, Anze Kopitar of the L.A. Kings.

Austrian coach Manny Viveiros, who is a Canadian from St. Albert, Alta., has reportedly promised there will be consequences for the curfew-crushing players.